ABSTRACT
While schol ars may be inter ested in other geograph ies of creativ ity, clus ter ing remains key to those policy makers, plan ners and creat ive medi at ors who believe that creativ ity can be cultiv ated as a force of (primar ily) economic gain. Indeed, clus ter ing has become so popular and such is the force of argu ment behind its effect ive ness at support ing and stim u lat ing the creat ive economy that it has become central to much policy in this area. So UK policy, from national creat ive sector policy docu ments (such as Creative Britain, DCMS 2009a1, or Digital Britain, DCMS 2009b2) to creat ive strategy within Regional Development Agency and Government Office contexts in the UK, Europe and the US have promoted clusters within both urban and rural areas in attempts to develop creat ive spaces for both economic and (less often) social devel op ment. Cluster ideas are not, of course, a uniquely UK phenomenon and can be seen around the world, from Mongolia to Dubai.
